S.M.S.L RAW-MDA1 ES9039Q2M USB XMOS XU-316 Qualcomm Bluetooth Chip MQA Decoder

I recently started looking for a new DAC for my headphone system. This led me to YouTube, and far too many hours of reviews and options. Honestly, the current market is just about fully saturated with cheap, and mid-priced, DACs. To make a long story shorter, I decided to pick up the S.M.S.L. Raw-MDA1 DAC/HPA after watching a bunch of glowing reviews. I can’t even imagine having made a better choice! Setting it up was super easy, and I never even had to look at the skimpy manual. I basically left everything at default after setting the unit to fixed audio out and balanced mode. I haven’t even tried the HPA section because I don’t need it…yet.My system is:• Focal Elear headphones• SMSL Raw-MDA1 DAC• Schiit Audio Midgard HPA• Wiim Pro Plus digital streamer• Audiolab 6000 CDT CD transportThe Raw-MDA1 replaces a very old, unbalanced, Simaudio Moon 100D that was sounding a little tired and slightly relaxed. I’m still using this for my desktop system, but the Raw-MDA1 has more of everything good: the sound is more detailed, the soundstage is wider and taller, and there’s nothing harsh or artificial sounding. I haven’t messed with the filters or sound color options at all as there’s no need. Everything sounds great the way it is. The only thing negative at all is that the input for the AC cable is very close to the on/off switch, so it was a bit of a challenge plugging in my massive, after-market power cable. I got it done, so no worries. One other little niggle is that the remote is very picky about where you aim it.All in all, the S.M.S.L Raw-MDA1 is a very nice, attractive DAC that sounds amazing, looks good, and is super-easy to setup. The price is ridiculously good for a piece of gear this solid. I’ll be returning to S.M.S.L in the future when I’m looking for other new toys.

Bypassed my PC DAC and sent output via BT aptX Adaptive to this SMSL DAC. The ESS ES9039Q2M produces not only a clean sound with high dynamic range, but a superb 3D soundstage. The recording technology of your source material will be obvious with this unit, a bit of a double edge sword. The built in headphone amp sounds very good with 1.5W into Sundara planar headphones. This is a unit built for highest possible quality DAC output into an speaker amp, but also for occasional headphone use. It is a massive upgrade from PC sound even using BT. If you hardwire via USB your sound will be the highest resolution possible.

UPDATE 3/23/25: I discovered an SMSL firmware update, RAWMDA1MCUV101 (.zip internal update files dated 9/24/24), and installed on 3/22/25. I also reinstalled the SMSL XMOS USB driver removed previously for USB 2.0 (UAC 2) support of files >96kHz. This firmware update/driver reinstall fixed most of the interrupted USB 2 sound issues noted below. However, adding external DC power to the notebook removed the occasional issues left of the USB interrupted sound issues- even though the notebook's battery was fully charged. This DAC now sounds excellent in all regards for my usage.As expected, the Bluetooth input, using LDAC 990kbps throughput, sounds very good, but the USB input provides noticeably better sound with more body, more bass and more treble in my non audiophile system to my non audiophile ears. At a close Bluetooth distance of ~8' between my notebook music source and the SMSL DAC, the LDAC bit rate fluctuates very quickly between 660 kbps and 990 kbps- monitored by the Tweaker Bluetooth app, along with its associated Alternative Bluetooth driver. I added the Amazon Fosi Audio Bluetooth Antenna WiFi SMA Male PC 2.4GHz 6dB antenna in place of the very small, stock SMSL antenna, and the bit rate is now much more stable at 990 kbps ~ 90+% of the time.The headphone amp seems to work well and has a quiet background using my Sony MDR-1A headphones.Original: This is being used primarily in USB 1.1 mode with a Lenovo Yoga 7i notebook using its USB ports (Type A and Type C Thunderbolt) and Bluetooth LDAC playing my own FLAC converted, music CD files at CD quality. This device works well in USB 1 mode, sound excellent, has a quiet background, but has consistent dropouts in USB 2 mode- even with the SMSL supplied Windows driver. Changing jitter settings makes no difference. Uninstalling the SMSL USB driver also made no difference.I will keep this device since I like the rest of this unit- with USB 1.1 mode and Bluetooth LDAC CODEC meeting my needs at a current sale price. However, if I wanted over 96kHz in USB, this device with its USB 2 issue would be a non-starter.

Hooked up USB-C and playing it through Roon with Philips SHP9500 headphones. Not top of the line headphones but still really happy with how this combination sounds. Really impressed with the DAC portion of the RAW MDA1. Can barely detect differences between the various PCM filters and "Sound Colors," but for the money I'm really pleased with the sound.

Connectivity was good. It operated properly. It just sounded thin to me.

From what I've read, this problem is a matter of "timing" being wrong in the device--that signal coming from my source--whether that's my iPhone or my Samsung S6 Lite tablet--is somehow out of sync with the amplifier section. Anyway, I'm sending it back: completely unusable. My other DAC amp, a Monoprice Monolith THX--experiences NO SUCH PROBLEM and gives awesome sound. Even my $55 Fosi Audio DS2 dongle DAC amp works OK, driving (not so capably, but still usable) my Arya headphones.

This is a sweet piece of gear.

I love this thing!